Fry Caddie

ABSTRACT

A tray body fabricated of a molded cardboard material defines a generally rectangular recess having at least one support member extending downwardly. The tray body further defines a center cup receptacle having a receptacle wall extending downwardly beyond tray body. A pair of side receptacles is formed on the opposing end of the recess. A pair of middles receptacles is formed in the center of the present invention.

NON-PROVISIONAL PATENT

The Fast Food Industry has been around since 1912. Fast food chains likeMcDonald's have reached international status. Food at fast roodrestaurants is designed to be eaten “on the go”. Food usually consistsof things like French fries, hamburgers, or chicken sandwiches which canbe eaten without cutlery and just with hands. Another typical feature offast food restaurants is a drive-through or drive-thru. A drive-throughallows customers to remain in their vehicle while they order and receivetheir food from a server at a window. Also, many people will eat theirfood in their vehicle which led the invention of such vehicle additionslike cupholders and glove compartment lids which double as a tray table.The present invention provides a tray that allows people to eat neatlywithin a vehicle.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to providean improved food and beverage tray supported by a cup holding armrest ina vehicle. A tray body fabricated of a molded cardboard material definesa generally rectangular recess having at least one support memberextending downwardly. The tray body further defines a center cupreceptacle having a receptacle wall extending downwardly beyond traybody. A pair of side receptacles is formed on the opposing end of therecess. A pair of middles receptacles is formed in the center of thepresent invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel,are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention,together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best beunderstood by reference to the following description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures ofwhich like reference numerals identify like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of present invention in opened position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of present invention in closed position.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view with holder removed.

FIG. 5 is a cutaway view of holder collapsed.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of food tray in collapsed position.

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of food tray in opened positioned.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of tray with fast food items therein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 sets forth a perspective view of a food and beverage trayconstructed in accordance with the present invention and generallyreferenced by numeral 10. In its preferred fabrication, tray (10) isformed as an integral top piece molded unit and a bottom piece moldedunit which, as is described below in greater detail. It is recognizedthat tray (10) may be fabricated of preferably cardboard or othermaterials such as composite particle material, paper pulp material,plastic material or other formable particulate material such as woodflour.

As shown in FIG. 1, in further accordance with the anticipated use ofthe present invention food and beverage tray (10), a conventionalarmrest (not shown) having a conventional cup holder (not shown) isrequired to the support of tray (10) therein. Food and beverage tray(10) comprises a body having a top flat wall (22) bounded by a rear (46)and front wall (42) with opposing side walls (43, 44) extending downwardto a bottom wall wherein an interior cavity is formed therebetween. Tray(10) further comprises a cup receptacle (15) which is bounded by sidewalls that extend downwardly from a top end to a bottom end and has aconfiguration that comports to the shape of a standard cup holdercavity. Since conventional cup holders have a cylindrical shape cavity,the illustrated embodiment is cylindrical in shape. The bottom end ofthe cup receptacle (15) is configured to be received by a conventionalcup holder cavity of any standard cup holder used in vehicles, movietheaters, bowling alleys, bicycles, motorcycles, and other entertainmentfacilities.

As shown in FIG. 5, cup receptacle (15) can be manufactured in a flatarrangement. Opposing sides (38, 32) can be folded over wherein acylindrical opening is formed. Then, protruding member (38) formed alongedge (38) is inserted into mating slot member (32) formed near edge(32). When formed cup receptacle (15) upper opening formed by top edge(36) can be slightly larger than lower edge (30).

As shown in FIG. 4, the top end of the cup receptacle (15) is releasablyengaged with a recessed section (24) within under side of the bottomwall (23). Thus, the food tray body is supported within an uprightposition within a conventional cup holder. The top flat wall (22) has aplurality of apertures extending into the cavity of the body. Theplurality of are apertures configured to support a group consisting of afast food container opening (25), a condiment container opening (27),and a packet container slot (29). The food container opening (25) of thepresent convention is configured to support an outer frame of a fastfood container (63) in an upright position. More specifically in thisembodiment shown, the fast food container opening (25) supports thegeometrical configuration of the conventional container for French friesused today. As shown the food container opening (25) comprises a firstpair of opposing sides that are straight and a second pair of opposingsides that are curved. However, the configuration of the food containeropening (25) can be configured in alternative shapes to support otherfast food items.

As further depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 7 is the condiment containeropening (27) configured to receive therein a rim (61) of a condimentcontainer with a bottom wall bounded by a side walls that extend upwardthereform and terminates in a rim (61). Other, configurations ofcondiment containers can be supported by the present invention. Theshown configuration is conventional.

As further depicted in FIG. 1 and FIG. 7 is the packet container slot(29) configured to support in an upright position a small packetcontainer (60) that comprise a pair of opposing flat panels with vacuumsealed opposing outer peripheral edges. As shown, the packet containerslot (29) suspends in an upright position small packet containers (60)containing ketchup, lemon juice or the like.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cup receptacle (15) is releasablyengaged from bottom wall. However in alternative embodiments the cupreceptacle (15) can be integrally formed within the bottom wall. In thisconfiguration, the cup receptacle (15) collapses within the bottom wall.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 6, and 6A, the food and beverage tray (10)can be manufactured in a collapsed state. In the collapse state, thebody of the food and beverage tray (10) has a collapsible fold line (20)along the median of the side walls (43, 44) and the cup receptacle (15)have a collapsible fold line (52) along the median side walls.

In order to place the food and beverage tray (10) of the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 6 and 6A in an open position, a user inserts hisfinger through hole (54) along top (25) pushing supporting member (54)forward towards fold line (20) wherein fold line (20) is forced into astraight line as shown in FIG. 6 a. Flaps 52 are pushed outward allowingcup (15) to be inserted therein.

As shown in FIG. 6 supporting opposing members (52) and (50) arecollapsed allowing fold line (20) to expand outward wherein food tray(10) is in a collapse position. As shown in FIG. 6A, supporting opposingmembers (52) and (50) are pushed outward allowing fold line (20) extendvertically wherein food tray is in an opened position. As shown in FIG.7, French fry (55) is inserted within food container (25), ketchuppacket (56) is inserted within packet slot (29), and condiment (57) isinserted within condiment holder (27).

In operational use, as shown in FIG. 5, the cup receptacle (15) isopened and the side walls (38, 32) are secured and the body is placed inan opened state. Then the upper end of the cup receptacle (15) iscoupled to a recessed area within the bottom wall (23) of the body. Thebottom end (36) of the receptacle (15) is inserted within the cavity ofthe cup holder allowing the suspending of the body of the food tray inan upright position for easy reach of fast food items.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changesand modifications may be made without departing from the invention inits broader aspects. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is tocover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spiritand scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. Food tray fabricated for holding food obtainedfrom a fast food restaurant, the tray comprising: a body comprising atop flat wall bounded by a rear and front wall with opposing side wallsextending downward to a bottom wall wherein an interior cavity is formedtherebetween; a cup receptacle bounded by side walls having aconfiguration to support a cup holder cavity and that extend downwardlyfrom a top end to a bottom end; the bottom end of the cup receptacleconfigured to be received by the cup holder cavity; the top end coupledto the an under side of the bottom wall; the top flat wall having aplurality of apertures extending into the cavity; the plurality ofapertures configured to support a group consisting of a fast foodcontainer opening, a condiment container opening, and a packet containerslot; the food container opening configured to support an outer frame ofa fast food container in an upright position; the condiment containeropening configured to support a rim of a condiment container; the packetcontainer slot configured to support in an upright position a smallpacket container comprising a pair of opposing flat panels with vacuumsealed outer peripheral edges.
 2. The food tray of claim 1 wherein thecup receptacle is releasably engaged from bottom wall.
 3. The food trayof claim 1 wherein the condiment container comprises a bottom wallbounded by a side walls that extend upward thereform and terminating ina rim.
 4. The food tray of claim 1 wherein the body further comprises afold line along the median of the opposing side walts of body allowingthe body to collapse.
 5. The food tray of claim 1 wherein the cupreceptacle further comprises a fold line along the median of opposingside walls allowing the cop receptacle to collapse.
 6. The food tray ofclaim 1 wherein the cup holder cavity has a cylindrical shape.
 7. Foodtray fabricated for holding food obtained from a fast food restaurant,the tray comprising: a body comprising a top flat wall bounded by a rearand front wall with opposing side walls extending downward to a bottomwall wherein an interior cavity is formed therebetween; a cup receptaclehaving a shape bounded by side walls that extend downwardly from a topend to a bottom end; the bottom end of the cup receptacle configured tobe received by a cup holder within a vehicle; the top end integrallyformed within an under side of the bottom wall; the top flat wall havinga plurality of apertures extending into the cavity; the plurality ofapertures configured to support a group consisting of a fast foodcontainer opening, a condiment container opening, and a packet containerslot; the food container opening configured to support an outer frame ofa fast food container in an upright position; the condiment containeropening configured to receive therein a rim of a condiment container;the packet container slot configured to support in an upright position asmall packet container comprising a pair of opposing flat panels with apair of outer peripheral edges that are vacuum sealed.
 8. The food trayof claim 6 wherein the cup receptacle collapses inwardly into the bottomwall.
 9. The food tray of claim 6 wherein the cup receptacle ismanufactured as a flat surface which is formed into a cylindricalmember.
 10. The food tray of claim 6 wherein the body further comprisesa fold line along the median of the opposing side walls of body allowingthe body to collapse.